The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, Alex Asafo-Agyei, has dismissed allegations circulating about the operations of the Authority, describing them as misleading and unsupported by facts.

In a statement addressing the controversy, Mr. Asafo-Agyei clarified that claims suggesting some beneficiaries of scholarships administered by the Authority are Canadian citizens are false.

According to him, the individuals being referenced are Ghanaians by birth and parentage, stressing that Ghanaian citizenship remains the fundamental eligibility requirement for scholarships administered by the Authority.

He explained that attempts to portray the beneficiaries as “Canadians benefiting from Ghanaian scholarships” were therefore deliberately misleading.

Mr. Asafo-Agyei also rejected assertions that scholarships administered by the Authority are reserved solely for “needy but brilliant” students.

He noted that the Authority operates a three-tier framework for awarding scholarships, which includes financial need for “needy but brilliant” students, national priority programmes that support sectors critical to the country’s development, and a merit-based category open to qualified Ghanaian students who meet the required academic standards regardless of their economic background.

Providing details on the current scholarship allocations, he disclosed that 5,000 scholarships had been earmarked for the 2026 cycle.

Out of this number, 2,000 are specifically reserved for the “needy but brilliant” category, which he said is administered by an independent selection committee to ensure transparency and fairness.

The remaining scholarships, he explained, are awarded under the merit-based and national priority categories in line with established guidelines.

Mr. Asafo-Agyei further emphasised that the Authority does not discriminate against applicants based on family background, social status, or perceived connections.

He stated that the Authority’s responsibility is to determine whether an applicant is Ghanaian and whether the applicant satisfies the selection criteria under the applicable category.

On claims that scholarships should only be awarded for programmes not offered in Ghana, the CEO noted that such arguments rely on provisions from the Ghana Scholarship Authority Bill, which had not yet come into force at the time the scholarships in question were awarded.

He explained that the Bill was passed in November 2025 and assented to in December 2025, making it legally untenable to suggest that the Authority breached a framework that was not in effect when the decisions were made.

Mr. Asafo-Agyei also rejected attempts to link the scholarships to allegations that awards were being sold or traded for money, stressing that the Authority operates a structured application and evaluation process.

He maintained that allegations of corruption must be supported by credible evidence and presented to the appropriate investigative bodies rather than circulated through speculation.

The CEO reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to diligence, fairness, and professionalism in administering scholarships in line with the policy direction of the government led by John Dramani Mahama.

He added that the Authority would soon publish additional lists of scholarship beneficiaries from 2016 to 2024 as part of efforts to promote transparency and make information more accessible to the public.